Electric sign



y 1942- T. R. WELCH 2,290,261

' ELECTRIC SIGN I Filed Dec., 27, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l T/IVE WITCH THOMAS R055 WELCH,

v INVENTOR.

July 1942. A T. R. WELCH ELECTRIC SIGN Filed Decf27, 1931 2 Shets-Sheet 2 THOMA 5 R055 WEL CH ATTORNEY.

Patented July 21, 1942 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC SIGN Thomas Ross Welch, Santa Monica, Calif.

Application December 27, 1937, Serial No. 181,818

4 Claims.

My invention relates to signs of the selective character type wherein selected characters, such as the letters of the alphabet and numerals, may be caused to. appear in consecutive order so as to impart to the observer a desired message.

It is an object of the invention to provide a sign comprising a desired number of letter formers, each of which letter formers consists of an arrangement of glow tubes, for example neon tubes, so placed and connected with a simple control means that selected sections of these glow tubes may be caused to illuminate, thereby presenting to the eye of an observer a desired character or symbol.

It is a further object 01 the invention to provide a simpleand effective means connected individually to the letter former and being capable of causing such letter former to consecutively display characters or symbols which will impart consecutive thoughts or ideas to an observer. For example, the letter former may be caused to consecutively display letters of the alphabet in a manner to spell out words and sentences which will impart a desired message. Accordingly, for use of a display member orsign occupying a relatively small space a sentence employing a relatively large number of words may be displayed in a manner which will attract the attention of an observer and which will clearly impart the desired message to such observer.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a letter former consisting of an arrangement of glow. tubes wherein theentire length of one or more of the glow tubes, or selected portions of individual tubes, may be employed in the formation of a symbol, this enabling me to use a reduced number of electrodes in the formation of the relatively complete letter former.

A further object of the invention is to provide a control system wherein each letter former is controlled through the use of an individual control panel having consecutive groups of switches which may be adjusted in desired order prior to the display of symbols by the letter former, there being means for consecutively connecting these separate switch groups with a source 'of electrical energy so that the letter former associated therewith will be caused to display consecutive symbols in accordance with the setting of the switch means of the consecutive groups of control switches.

A further object of the invention is to provide individual groups of selector switches, each selector switch having an individual feed line, and

of switch contacts.

there being associated feed switch means for Further objects and advantages of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification.

Referring to the drawings which are for illustrative purposes only:

Fi 1 is an electrical diagram showing a preferred embodiment of my invention. 4

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the preferred form of letter former.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the tube elements.

Fig. 4-is a side view of the right vertical tube element of Fig.2.

Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive are schematic views showing how different characters may be displayed by a letter former.

The letter former 29, shown in detail in Fig. 2, is comprised of elements 30, 3 I, 32, 32', 33, S5 and S2l which are respectively formed from glass tubes, are suitably gas filled and are provided with electrodes. In the ordinary practice of the invention the elements may be neon tubes. The element 30 comprises a tube bent at two points so as to form a vertical leg 34 and upper and lower rightwardly extending branches 35 and 36. The element 3| is straight and is vertically placed at the ends of the branches 35 and 36 so as to form, in conjunction with the element 30, a rectangle. The element 32, as shown in the segment in Fig. 3 is a tube having an intermediate portion 31 bent to form a circle, the ends 38' of the portion 31 substantially meeting, and end portions 38 and 39 extending from the ends, 38' of the central portion 31 in diverging relation so as to substantially form a letter V, the angle of divergence of these parts 38 and 39 being such that the ends 40 thereof will lie in the upper comers of the rectangle defined by the elements 30 and 3|.

The element 32' is constructed in the same manner as the element 32 but is reversed so that the end portions 38 and 39 thereof diverge downwardly and have their ends 48 disposed in the lower corners oi the rectangle formed by the elements 30 and 3|. The element 33 is a straight tube extending laterally in an intermediate position between the upper and lower branches 35 and 38 and the elements 5 and 2| extend vertically and diametrally within the elements 32 and 32'. So that all of the elements maybe clearly seen, they have been drawn in such relation that one tube does not overlie the other, but it will be recognized that in actual practice top, bottom, and side portions of the central section 31 of the elements 32 and 32' may pass under the elements 38, 3|, and 33, or vice versa.

The element 3| is provided with rearwardly turned ends 4|, and three intermediate extensions 42 formed of sections of glass tubing connected to the element 3| by iusion. The rearwardly turned ends 4| and the extensions 42 serve as supports for electrodes 43 which divide the element 3| into tube sections 81, Sll, S21. and S9,'which are substantially of equal length. In a similar manner, the element 38 is provided with nine equally spaced electrodes 43, dividing the upper branch 33 into tube sections 8 and SIS. the vertical portion 34 into tube sections SI 8, S28, S22 and S24, and the lower branch 38 into tube sections 828 and 823. As shown in Fig. 2, the element 32 has projecting electrode supports 42, supporting electrodes 43 and being so placed as to divide the element 32 into tube sections 84, S|2, 88, S8, SI! and S". In a similar manner the element 32 is divided by electrodes 43 into tube sections 82, SI3, S23, 83, SH, and

S25. The equally spaced electrodes 43 divide the element 3| into a pair oi tube sections SI and S22, of substantially equal length. Elements S5 and S2| have electrodes 43 disposed at the ends thereof and accordingly may be referred to as tube sections S5 and S2| respectively.

Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive show how different symbols, such as letters and numerals, may be displayed by the letter iormer 29. In Fig. 5, the

lector circuit wires I to 28' inclusive are connected in consecutive order to the electro-magnets 48 of the respective relays 41. The conductors to 28' extend in parallel through a plurality of selector switch banks oi which any desired number may be provided. For the purpose oi explanation, I have shown two of such selector switch banks 58 and 5|. Each control switch bank includes l4 selector switches A to N inclusive, this number oi selector switches being halt the number of circuits to 28'.

Each selector switch of the group A to N inclusive includes a movable switch contact 52 and a pair of stationary contacts .53 and 54 each of which is connected to a conductor to 28'. For example, as shown in selector switch N, the contacts 53 and 54 are connected respectively to the conductors 21' and 28'. Means are provided for simultaneously connecting or simultaneously disconnecting all of the movable switch members 52 to a low voltage electrical supply wire 55', the electro-magnets 48 of the relays 41 being connected through the conductor 49 with the associated low voltage ieed conductor 56'. This means for connecting the movable contact 52 with the conductor 55 comprises fourteen feed conductors 51 extending to fourteen contacts 58,

illumination of the entire element 38 and section SI of element 33 will display the letter E. The letter O is produced by the illumination of sections S20, S22, S23, 83, S21, SI3, S8, and S8. The manner of forming letter Z and numerals 4 and 5 may be observed from an inspection of Figs. 7, 8, and 9. The letter former disclosed is capable of displaying all of the letters of the alphabet and all of the numerals. It will be noted that there are twenty-eight oi the tube sections SI to S28, and that many of the electrodes 43 serve two adjacent tube sections.

As shown in Fig. l, twenty-eight pairs of conductors 45 provide series circuits for electrical energization of the individual tube sections, such circuits being numbered I to 28 inclusive, and all of the circuits being extended to a relay switch bank 48 containing twenty-eight electromagnetic relays 41 each of which is connected to one of the circuits 2, 3, etc. in such a manner as to bridge across or unbridge the pair of conductors constituting the circuits to which the individual relays 41 are connected, such'bridging or unbridging depending on whether the .relays are closed or open.

The series circuits to 28 areconnected in series, either by the connecting of two adjacent wires to a single electrode .or by the use 0! jumpers 81 between adiacent contacts of adjacent relays 41 associated with the series circuits. One side of the electro-magnet 48 of each relay 41 is connected to a common wire .8, and seadapted to be simultaneously engaged by a single bar contact 59 which is connected through a conductor 88 to the wire 55'. As a means for bringing the bar contact 59 into engagement with the contact 58 I have shown a drum 8| on which the bar contact 58 is mounted, the rotation of this drum 8| moving the bar 58 first into engagement with the contacts 58 and then from engagement with the contact 58 to consecutive sets of contacts such as the set shown at 53', the number of sets of such contacts 58-58 being in accordance with the number of groups of selector switches N. The contacts indicated at 58' are connected through conductors -51' with the movable contact members 52 of the control switch bank 5|, which is a duplicate of the control switch bank 58.

As ameans for advancing'the drum 5| I provide an electro-magnet 83 having a pawl 84 adapted to engage the teeth of a ratchet 85 mounted or connected to the.drum 8|. From an electric service conductor 55 a wire 55a extends to the electro-magnet 83, and another wire 58a extends from a service conductor 58 to a movable contact 68 of a switch 81 having a cooperative stationary contact 88 which isconnected through a conductor 89 with the electromagnet 53. The switch 81 is adapted to be closed by means of a yoke 18 connected to and operated by an electro-magnet 1| which is connected in a circuit 12 with a timing device or switch 13. The yoke 18 is likewise operatively connected to the movable contact 14 of the switch 15, the movable contact 14 being in engagement with a stationary contact 15 when the switch 81 is open. The movable contact 14 is connected by means of a wire 55b to the feed wire 55, and the feed wire 58 is connected by means or a conductor 58b to one side of a primary winding 11 of a transformer 13, the other side of said winding 11 being connected through a conductor 18 with the contact 18 of switch 15. The transformer 13 has a secondary winding 8|, one side of which is connected through a conductor 82 with the outside wire 83 of the series circuit 28, and the other side of the secondary winding 8| is connected through a conductor 84 with the outside wire 85 of series circuit i.

out by reason of the fact that the relays asso- 4 The relays 41, of which there are twentyeight, to correspond to the number of circuits l28, have normally closed contacts 88 which, when closed, connect together or bridge the conductors of the circuits associated therewith. For example, the contact 88 of the relay 41 associated with circuit 24 when closed will connect the wires 45 which form the circuit 24, thereby bridging the conductors forming series circuit 24. Accordingly, should all of the relays 41 be in closed position, as will occur when none of the electro-magnets 48 associated therewith are energized, the bar contacts 88 of these relays would form a direct short in the high potential circuit from conductor 82 to conductor 84.

Wherever a relay 41 is opened, by the energiza- N, are respectively connected with the conductors l8, I8, 28', 22', 24', 26, and 28. With the selector switches so set, the movement of the bar contact 59 into engagement with the contact 58 will result in a flow of electrical energy through the conductors I', l4, l8, I8, 28', 22', 24', 28', and 28', and through the relay electromagnets 48 associated therewith. This will result in the opening of the relays 41 associated with circuits I, I4, I6, I8, 28, 22, 24, 28, and 28. Should the transformer 19 be now energized, high voltage current will flow through the conductor 84, through circuits I, l4, l6, I8, 28, 22, 24, 28, and 28, and then back to the transformer through conductor 82, the remaining circuits 2 to l8, l5, |1, |9, 2|, 23, 25, and 21 associated with the letter former 29 being shorted out by the closed relays 41, the contacts 86 of these relays bridging the series circuits as shown. The foregoing operation of the relays 41 will result in energization of the entire element 88 and'the tube section SI, with the result that the letter E will be displayed by illuminated neon tube sections as illustrated in Fig. 5. It will be noted that each control or selector switch A to N, or A to N controls a pair of the relays to 28 and accordingly a pair of the sections S| to $28, and that these sections are distributed in such a manner in the letter former that only one relay of each pair is employed at any one time in the forming of 'a character. For example, relay is used in the forming of letter E, but relay 2, which is paired therewith, is used in the letter X.

The bank of selector switches is shown as set for the display of the letter I. To display this letter requires only that the tube elements S5 and S2| be illuminated; therefore, circuits 5 and 2| need only be opened. Accordingly, in the switch bank 5| the movable contact of switch C is connected with conductor 5, and the movable contact of switch K is connected to conductor 2|. The advancing of the bar contact 59 into position to engage the contacts 58' will result in a flow of current through the conductors 5' and 2| to the electro-magnets of the relays 41 which are adapted to open the circuits 5 and 2|. All of the remaining circuits will be shorted the relays.

ciated therewith will remain closed, and current from the secondary 8| of the transformer 18 will flow only through the circuits 8 and 2| and through the neon tube elements S8 and SZI.

The number of selector switch banks employed with a letter former 28 will corrupond to the number of letter changes required. The num ber of sets'of contacts 58 placed around the drum 8| will correspond to the number of selector switch banks employed. Each timethe timing switch 18 energizes the electro-magnet 1|, the yoke 18 will be actuated in leftward direction, opening switch 18 which controls the transformer 19 and closing switch 81 with the result that solenoid 88 will be energized and pawl 84 will advance the drum through one consecutive position so as to carry the bar contact 59 to the next set of contacts 58, for example, to the set of contacts indicated at 58'. It is a feature of the invention that during the time the bar contact is being moved from one set of contacts 58 to the next, the transformer 19 will be deenergized. Therefore, at this time, high voltage will not be impressed on any of the contacts 88 of the relays 41 and likewise no current will flow across during the time they are being opened and closed.

A further feature of the invention is that the number of conductors 51 extending from one selector switch bank 58 need only be half the number of circuits employed for the control of The double throw switches A--N are so connected with the relays 41 that only one contact 88 or 54 of each control switch need be employed at any one time during the display of a character on the associated letter former 28.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a changeable sign device of the character described, the combination of: a letter former having a plurality of illuminable glow tube sections arranged so that the selective illumination thereof will display characters; a series circuit connected to each of said sections, there being means for impressing an electrical poten tial across said series circuits; a relay'connected to each of said series circuits and being operative to bridge and unbridge the same; a source of electrical energy; a separate selector circuit conductor extending from one side of each of said relays; a common conductor connected to the other side of all of said relays, said common conductor being connected to said source of electrical energy; a plurality of banks of selector switches, each' selector switch comprising a pair of primary contacts individually connected to said selector circuit conductors and a. secondary contact adapted to selectively engage said pritions arranged so that the selective illuminationv thereof will display characters; a series circuit connected to each of said sections, there being means for impressing an electrical potential across said series circuits; a relay connected to each of said series circuits and being operative to bridge and unbridge the same; a source of electrical energy; a separate selector circuit conductor extending from one side of each of said relays; a common conductor connected to the other side of all of said relays, said common conductor being connected to said source 01' electrical energy; a plurality of banks of selector switches, each selector switch comprising a plurality of primary contacts each of which is connected to one of said selector circuit conductors, and each selector switch comprising a secondary contact for selective engagement with said primary contacts thereof; a set of feed conductors extending from each of said banks, said ieed conductors being separate from each other and being connected to separate of said secondary contacts of said banks; and means operative to connect one of said sets of feed conductors to said source of electrical energy and then substantially instantaneously disconnect said source of electrical energy from said feed conductors and connect it to another set of said feed conductors.

3. In a changeable sign device the character described, the combination of: a letter former having a plurality of illuminable glow tube sections arranged so that the selective illumination thereof will display characters; a series circuit connected to each of said sections, there being means for impressing an electrical potential across said series circuits; a relay connected to each of said series circuits and being operative to bridge and unbridge the same; a source of electrical energy; a selector switch including a' group of primary contacts each of which primary contacts is connected to one of said relays for energization thereof, and a selector contact adapted to selectively engage said primary contacts; and means for connecting said secondary contact with said source oi. electrical energy.

4. In a changeable sign device of the character described, the combination of: a letter former having a plurality of illuminable sections arranged so that the selective illumination thereof will display characters; means for controlling the illumination of said sections. each 0! said means comprising an electro-magnet; a. source of electric energy; switch means for controlling the flow of electrical energy from said source; a plurality of feed conductors extending from said switch means toward said electro-magnets; selector switch means for each 01 said ieed conductors and being operative to connect the same to any one of a plurality or said electro-magnets whereby current will flow from said source to selected electro-magnets; and conductor means for return of said current from said selected electro-magnets.

THOMAS ROSS WEDCH. 

